When My Old Friends Said That They Miss Me

When I go back to the Islands And my old friends said that they miss me I miss me too, the old me, The one who had the futuristic ideas the girl with the nappy braids that locks the girl with the ashy feet, the one who work the land with her bare hands I was liked a woman land army, wild and carefree the same girl who use her teeth to peel out the hard skin and bite into the inner part of the sugarcane and chew it. Planted roses, morning glories with a smile The one who loaded sharp blades sugarcanes on to the high trucks under the relentless sun or frigid rain with aches and pain and drank water from the pitchers until the sun go down Somehow, that girl survive those hard days Even when she dance until dawn to the Sound of the reggae beat and the oldies Goldie’s. The one who woke up early to catch the 5:20 am bus to travel to work in Wildleys for minimum wages. So when I go back to the islands And my old friends say they miss me Old friends brings all of the memories back into the present state of mind for a woman who is growing old